BRITISH SOCIAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE MILITARY
AND CONTEMPORARY CONFLICT
Are the Armed Forces understood and supported by the public?
British Social Attitudes Survey
2011 BSA Survey
3,311 responded Response rate = 54%
Data collection June to Sept 2011
bsa-29.natcen.ac.uk
Public opinion of Iraq and Afghanistan
Success of the missions
27% 30%
Perceived purposes of Iraq
Ensure Western oil supplies
26%
Make Iraq a stable country9%
Protect UK from ter-rorism supported by
Saddam15%
Make ME more stable
8%
Prevent Iraq acquiring
WoMD 18%
Help US & NATO al-lies12%
Other11%
Perceived purposes of Afghanistan
Protect the UK from terrorism
30%
Make Afghanistan a stable country
28%
Make Afghanistan a successful democ-
racy9%
Gain access to oil & mineral resources
13%
Help US & NATO al-lies13%
Other6%
British troops out now?
Options for withdrawal from Afghanistan %
As soon as possible, without conditions 35
As soon as the Afghan government can protect its territory AND prevent it from being used as a base for terrorism 34
As soon as the government in Afghanistan can protect its territory 19
As soon as Afghanistan has become a successful democracy/ AND has a successful economy 5
At a fixed future date, without conditions 4
Public opinion of the Armed Forces
Role of the media
Heroes or victims?
0
20
40
60
80
100
77
59
46
15
5851
57
24
Current personnel
Former members
Per c
ent
% A
F/ES
mor
e lik
ely
Veteran charities
Almost 2/3 knew of veteran charity or organisation
Two largest charities were the most well-known Royal British Legion & poppy charities Help for Heroes
More than 75% had bought a Poppy
Government support for veterans
physical illness/injury
mental illness/injury
0
20
40
60
80
100
29 31
7175
currently receive better health & welfare provision
should get prior-ity health & wel-fare provisionPe
r cen
t % Y
es
Who is a veteran?
Definitions %
Left Service to retire 37
Deployed on operations (not necessarily overseas) 21
Deployed overseas in a combat mission 18
Unsure 9
Left Service after four years 9
Completed basic training 3
Deployed overseas 3
Completed a minimum of one day’s service 2
The UK civil-military gap
Public support mission
Military support returning personnel
Reported hostility
0
20
40
60
80
100
33 31
2
45
69
20
Public
Armed Forces
Per c
ent %
Yes
Future role of the UK Armed Forces
%
Defending the UK against threats from other states 28
Assisting police & security forces in anti-terror operations in the UK (incl. crime, terrorism and cyber security) 24
Supporting NATO allies, taking part in UN missions 17
Humanitarian aid & disaster relief (overseas or UK) 14
Missions against terrorists abroad 9
Protecting citizens of overseas countries who are engaged in protest or dissent from attacks by their government/rulers/ removing dictators
8
Ceremonial and public duties 1
Summary
Public support UK Armed Forces but not missions
Public believe military service to have an impact on mental health outcomes
Public support priority government health & welfare services for veterans
Differences between public and military opinions may have implications for civil-military relations
Reluctance of public to support UK military action may be legacy of the Iraq and Afghanistan missions